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Vieille ville de Lijiang

NHK World Heritage 100 Series (en anglais)

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Texte narratif (en anglais)

Lijiang is in the northwest of Yunnan Province in China. The town stretches across a plain 2,400 metres above sea level. The Old City is lined with beautiful tile-roofed houses. The wooden homes and flag-stoned pavements are reminiscent of Tang and Song styles. Several minority ethnic groups live here. Approximately 70% of the 300,000 population are Naxis: the town was built and developed by the Naxi people. Lijiang has numerous tea houses. The town flourished as a trading post of the Silk Road of tea, known as the "Tea-Horse Ancient Path". Merchants would travel from far and wide with their horses loaded with tea.

The city has a complex water-supply system. The Jade Dragon River stemming from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain diverges into numerous small waterways providing water to all areas of the town. The water in the upper part of the river is for drinking. The Spring water tastes good, and attracts people each day. People scrub the dirt off their vegetables in the middle part of the river. While clothes are washed further downstream. Different parts of the river have different functions: hence the name Three-eyed Well. A unique Lijian character.

At the foot of the bridge is a slot where a board can be placed to dam the waterway. This method has been in practice since the Ming Dynasty.

In this festival, an elder reads out a scripture praying for the peace and well-being of the Naxi people. The scripture is written in Dongba pictograph. It was developed more than a thousand years ago and is still passed down to this day. It is a living hieroglyph. The spirit of respecting tradition and ancient wisdom still thrives here in the town of Lijiang.